His 22 stolen bases were actually his lowest since 03. Usually averages 30 SB a year. Would fit in nicely with Upton, Crawford, Abreu, and Bartlett all 30+ SB threats.

Also, while his HR numbers have never been amazing, he is seemingly always good for 40+ doubles every year. Somwhere between a .450 and .500 SLG%.

because it made no sense at the time. This was a new team that needed to stockpile young talent, not deal it for mediocrity (at best). I know their argument was that young pitchers needed a top flight shortstop behind them, but Stocker never was that, and in any case, that would still not have justified dealing Abreu for him. Abreu was exactly the kind of young talent TB had to treasure not because he turned into a good player but because he might have done so, it was known at the time he had skills and tools and the object should have been to acquire as many of that sort of players as possible.

It is true that Abreu was an unknown quantity at the time and that the Astros had apparently rushed a bit in souring on him. On the other hand they had 22 year old Richard Hidalgo on hand, had just won the division as they would the next two years and even if they turned out to be wrong it still was not equivalent to the Devil Rays simply ignoring his potential. Whether other teams also made a mistake is not the issue. To me the issue is that the Devil Rays had him and threw him away which demonstrated a lack of understanding of what they needed to do to build a competitive team.

that was too harsh. More like plenty of opposition, but in a devil’s advocate sort of way. I enjoyed that debate, by the way.

good point

oh and I think what RJ said about Abreu and Giambi seeming more like equals a few weeks ago than they do now, is a good point. Giambi has fallen further and further down most Rays fans wishlists ever since teh Joyce trade